The Swing Shift Shuffle is a radio program of swing, big band, jazz, boogie woogie and other popular music from the 1930's and 40's that airs every Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (US Central Time) on WEVL 89.9 FM in Memphis, Tennessee, with a live webcast at wevl.org. In addition to the radio show, this blog is dedicated to all aspects of the Swing Era, including art, automobiles, cartoons, comics, history, movies, music, news, science, technology, and anything else that happened during that time. It also includes announcements about events in the Memphis/Mid-South area related to the Swing Era, such as classic movies, concerts, dances, lectures, etc. If you see something that fits the description, send it to me at tim@wevl.org. If you would like more information about the radio show, just go to the Radio Show FAQ page.

Friday, March 29, 2013

I barely remember seeing this Bugs Bunny cartoon, and it is certainly not one of the oft-repeated shorts. Bugs tangles with a construction worker about a skyscraper over his home. Guess who wins. From the Internet Archive, here is the 1950 animated short, Homeless Hare.

Boing Boing pointed me to a set of photos from the 1946 nuclear weapons tests on the Bikini Atoll. The photographers who took some of these pictures were way too close. Over 20 years ago, I saw photos very similar to the shot above taken at altitude, except they were in color, and were shown to me by the photographer who took them, using his personal Argus camera. He was an Airman in the USAF at the time, assigned to ride in a B-29 circling the test site. He told me he looked away from the window while pointing his camera at the window, and snapped the shutter.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session continues this Friday night at the Rumba Room. Free lesson at 7:00 p.m. Free admission before 7:00, and $5 cover at the door afterwards. Lesson by Kishore and Amanda, music by Amanda. Dress like you are going out!

Monday, March 25, 2013

The premise of Captain X of the RAF, posted on Four Color Shadows, suggests that its 1941 publication date was prior to Pearl Harbor. Otherwise, this American hero would have been in the U.S. Army Air Corps, rather than the Royal Air Force. That concept is based on fact, as there were many Americans who volunteered to fight and fly for the RAF.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Why did vehicles like this 1935 Diamond T Texaco tanker truck, several photos of which are posted on Dieselpunk, never catch on for larger production volume? I mean this design gives a very utilitarian vehicle some seriously cool style.

In addition to the live music at the regular Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session this Friday night, the first of the Epicenter Vintage Swing Workshops will take place Saturday night, featuring J. Thomas & The Swingin' Monkeys. Passes for the dance are included in the overall Epicenter price, or you can get a dance only pass for $10 in advance/$15 at the door. More information available here.

Monday, March 18, 2013

This "Boardwalk Train" mentioned in the October 1937 issue of Mechanics And Handicraft, posted on Modern Mechanix, is the predecessor to the trams that carry visitors around amusement parks, zoos, etc. today.

Friday, March 15, 2013

On this Friday before Saint Patrick's Day, this seemed an appropriate cartoon (despite its obvious ethnic stereotypes). From the Internet Archive, here is the 1950 Warner Bros. animated short, The Wearing Of The Grin.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

I thought I had stopped marvelling at the diversity of long lost comic book heroes from the 1940's and their unusual powers, but this story about "Air Wave", posted on Four Color Shadows, made me marvel again. Apparently, Air Wave used "wireless" and "radio magic" to gather intelligence and foil criminal plots. He had a talking parrot sidekick named "Static." I could really not make this stuff up.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

The Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session continues this Friday night at the Rumba Room. Free lesson at 7:00 p.m. Free admission before 7:00, and $5 cover at the door afterwards. Lesson by Kirk and Becky, music by DJ EJ. Dress like you are going out!

Monday, March 11, 2013

Those words may have been running through Claude Rains' mind as he watched Humphrey Bogart and Paul Henreid play chess on the set of Casablanca. Classic Movies Digest posted this shot and two other on the set candid shots, including one with Bogie, Lauren Bacall, Edward G. Robinson and Claire Trevor on the set of Key Largo.

Friday, March 8, 2013

When "Uncle Max" finishes a drawing of Betty and leaves for the day, Ko Ko pops out an inkwell, eats a candy bar and develops a toothache. Betty then draws up a dentist's office to render assistance, laughing gas gets involved, and things get a little out of control, even beyond the scope of Betty's sketchpad. From the Internet Archive, here is the 1934 animated short, Ha! Ha! Ha!

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Thanks to the Hemmings blog for letting me know about an exhibition opening this summer at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville. "Sensuous Steel: Art Deco Automobiles" will display about 20 cars that illustrate the influence of Art Deco on automotive design. Included in the exhibition is this 1929 Cord L-29 Cabriolet. For more information visit FristCenter.org. I will be there sometime this summer.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Here is another classic Warner Bros. cartoon I have not seen in some time, probably because of the "DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME (or anywhere else, for that matter)" ending. From the Internet Archive, here is the 1948 animated short, Curtain Razor.